Go with either of the following:
Tommy Wheeler's Fusion - if you can get one. Availability and support is weak. Also, the Wheeler blanks are off-centered. A 4Ft butt and a 9Ft top. Makes transporting a problem for many. Good blank though.
The Daiwa Saltiga 35 is just plain AWESOME. Light, powerful and easily transported.
The New Zealand CTS blank. Get the 13 foot and not the 13-6 blank. Two piece centered.
The first two will run you in that $400 to $500 range. The Daiwa comes pre-built or blank alone. Take your pick. We do a lot of Drum fishing in Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks and the Daiwa has become the rod of choice for many. Daiwa also makes a 33 which is softer and the 40 which is stiffer. The 35 will throw 10 and bait with no problem. It is tailor made for 8 N bait as is the Fusion. You cannot go wrong with any of the three listed here. The CTS is the new class and is superior to either but so is the cost. You will spend roughly $550 to $600 for that rod built out. It is incredibly light, powerful and easily throws 8 n bait and/or land 50 pound drum and the occassional ray.
The 1509's and 1569's will work you. The 1508 is a better blank than the 1509 or 1569 unless you are King Kong. The 1569 has a very thin wall which makes it a fairly light blank but they have a tendency to break around the reel seat. The butt section is undergoing a design revisionment that should improve on that problem. If you have the brute power required, the 1569 will serve you well.
If you fish the beach exclusively, the Lamiglass GSB150 is an excellent compromise. It is 12-6 but usually ends up around 12-4 which gives up about a foot in length. Additionally, they are not as powerful as the other blanks listed but do have one superior feature. The rod is so light, you can stand on the Point all day with the GSB150 in hand and not get tired. Probably the best beach rod. Will not throw with the other blanks mentioned. It is a niche blank.
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